Hog dehairing



R S. REDFIELD.

HOG DEHAIRING, POLISHING, AND SCRAPING MACHINE. APPHCAT'ON FI LEDAPR-22, I918.

1 325,956. Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Qizoraeg,

R. S. REDFIELD. HOG DEHAIRING, POLISHING, AND SCBAPING MACHINE.

APPHCATION FILED APR.22. I918- Patented Dec. 23,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. s REDFIELD.

HOG DEHAIRING, POLISHING, AND SCRAPING MACHINE. APPHCATION FILED APR.22, 91a.

1 ,3Q5,956a Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- ill I sic f ROBERT S. REDFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HOG DEHAIRING, POLISHING, AND SCRAPIN'G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 229,968.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT S. Rnornino, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago,county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Hog Dehairing, Polishing, and Scraping Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to the packing house and by-products industry andrelates especially to machines used on the hog killing floors for thepurpose of removing the hair and scurf from the hogs after the same havebeen thoroughly scaldedj This invention relates to an improvement overmy now pending application, Serial No. 154,088 of March 12th, 1917,embodying a mechanically perfected apparatus, employing substantiallythe same principles as set out in the above mentioned application, butbringing the same down to a more recent and practical mechanicalembodiment of my new principles of operation.

The objects of this invention are the same as set forth in my formerapplication; that is, simplicity of construction and design, durable andhigh efficiency in operation, and one that may be fabricated andmaintained a relatively low cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and novel means forconveying the hog up to, retaining the same in contact with, andpermitting the same to pass beyond the dehairing element of my ma chine.

Further objects of my invention which are decided improvements upon thepresent art, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains, as it is more fully set out in the followingspecification; as it is expressed in the appended claims; and as it isshown in the drawings, and in which Z Figure 1 is a side elevation of myhog dehairing machine shown in its assembled relation with a scaldingvat and gambreling bench.

Fig. 2 is a fragmented front elevation taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner and means wherebythe hog is caused to approach and come in contact with the dehairingelement; the means for retaining the hog in contact with the dehairingelement; and the means whereby the hog is permitted to pass beyond andout of the working plane of the dehairing element.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmental, vertical section, taken through oneof the dehairing spools, showing the general design and assembly of mypreferred form of dehairing means, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing one of the many possible modificationsof my preferred dehairing means.

Similar reference characters refer respectively to similar partsthroughout the several views.

My dehairing machine comprises primarily, two vertical side frame plates10, joined parallel to one another and spaced by means of anintermediate back plate 11, disposed at an angle of, substantially 30degrees with the horizontal, which plate 11, serves as an inclined wayby means of which the hog is slid forward to the dehairing elements ofmy machine. The dehairers comprise substantially, a series of scrapers,each series consisting of a number or group of spools 12, more clearlyshown at Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Each of the spools 12 has acorrugated periphery 13,'and the spools of each group are looselymounted on a hollow arbor 14:, through which passes an auxiliary shaftfor supporting the arbors 15.

In assembling my scraper, I preferably employ four of these auxiliaryshafts positioned equidistant with spools threaded in groups upon themas described, the groups being mounted diametrically opposite eachotherand the spools of each group being spaced apart from one another bymeans of narrow spacing rings 16, insufficient in width to materiallybreak the continuity of the spools, the rings being keyed to the maindrive-shaft 17, which latter runs parallel with the back plate 11, at apoint in front of same, and is journaled in bearings 18, located in theside frame-plates 10.

.This shaft 17 receives its motion from a drive pulley 19, keyedthereto, one end of the shaft projecting beyond the end plate 10 of themachine to receive the pulley. The auxiliary shafts 15 are drawn up andsecurely fastened to the two outermost spacing rings 16 so as to form acompact scrap- .in element.

llpon reference to Fig. .i: of the drawings,

it will be noted that the arbors 14L are slightly longer than the widthof the spools 12, thereby permitting the spacing plates tobe drawn uptight against the ends of the arbors and still permitting of the freeuninterrupted rotary movement of the spools thereon.

The pulley 19, is driven by means of a belt (not shown) at a speed ofapproximately 160 R. P. M. in a clockwise direction, which rotates theshaft 17 in the same direction, and as the spacing plates 16 are keyedthereto, the entire scraping element is caused to rotate in thisdirection.

The scalding vat designated by the reference character 20, is in thepresent typification of the invention shown as placed adjacent to therear end of the machine, the top of the vat coming to a point just belowthe rear end of the back plate 11. Any commercial form of atub-throw-out may be employed, but for the purpose of more clearlyillustrating my invention, I have shown an automatic throw-out assembleddirectly to my machine and connected by means of a chain to the maindrive shaft 17.

This throw-out comprises substantially, throw-out; arms 21 which arekeyed to a transverse rock-shaft '22, and journaled in bearing-brackets23 projecting from the rear of the frame of the machine. To one end ofthe shaft 22 is keyed or otherwise fastened, a rocker-arm 2% which isconnected by means of a connecting rod 25 to an eccentric 26, whichreceives its motion from a counter-shaft 27; this counter-shaft isjournaled in bearings at the rear of the frame work, and has one endprovided with a sprocket wheel 28, which by means of a chain 29,receives its motion from a sprocket 30, which is keyed to acounter-shaft 31.

This shaft 31 is journaled in bearings 32, similar to the bearings ofthe shaft 27, and extends across the rear end of the machine, one end ofthe shaft is provided with a sprocket 33, which is driven by a chain 34:and the sprocket pinion 35 connects this shaft with the main drive shaft17. This imparts motion to the eccentric 27 which slowly rotates andcauses the throw-out 2,1 to operate to lift hogs successively from thevat to the plate 11 at proper intervals to be operated upon by thedehairing elements. The eccentric mechanism causes the throwout 21 to beactuated from its receiving to discharging position in which latter itbecomes inclined above the inclined way 11.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have illus trated the hog in dotted lines(by the character 36), and its principal positions by the characterletters A to D. In the operation of the machine, the carcass isdelivered by the throw-out 21 to the inclined way 11, passing from A toB due to its own gravity, where it is caught and carried over by andupon the dehairing element to the position B where it is retainedagainst further travel and discharge by means of a swinging outwardlyopening gate composed of a plurality of substantially vertical arms 38,which are secured at their uppermost ends to a transverse rock shaft 39.The lower ends of these arms may be curved rearwardly and correspond inposition with the spacingplates 16, and are preferably of a lengthadapting them to take between the spools 12. The shaft 39 is journaledin suitable bearings 40, and is provided with the notched lock arm 41,which cooperates with the l0cking lever 43 to releasably hold the gatein the lowered position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Then the arms 38 are in their lowered position, the lock arm s1 issecurely held between a block 42 secured to the frame-work and a lockinglever 43. This lever 43 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the side ofthe machine, and has the end opposite to the end which engages with thelock arm pivotally connected to a link 44:, which in turn is pivotedlyconnected with one arm 45 of a bell crank lever 16, pivoted at 4.7 tothe frame of the machine.

The bell crank lever 46 and its associated parts may be held in theposition shown in Fig. 1 by the coil spring as, which has one endconnected to the lever 43.

When the carcass has reached the position as indicated at B, it iswholly supported by and at about vertically above the dehairing elementand it is retained in this position by the gate for the time necessaryto remove its hair and give its skin what is termed a polish, afterwhich the operator operates the bell crank lever 46 to the rear thuspermitting the gate to be forced, by the Weight and velocity of thecarcass, to its open or discharging position, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 1.

The rotations of the dehairing element tend to constantly move thecarcass toward and against the gate bars 38 with considerable force, sothat this momentum thus imparted to the carcass combined with itsweight, will serve to open the gate forwardly as shown on the dottedlines Fig. 1 the moment the gate is released, thus permitting thecarcass to pass to the position C and fron'i thence to the position D,upon the gambreling bench 4L9.

lVhen the hog is in the position as shown at B, the hair, dirt and waterare carried down by the scraping element, and in order to prevent thesame from reaching and accumulating upon the gambreling bench, I haveprovided a grid table extending across the front of the machine whichconsists of a plurality of parallel rods 50. These rods are inclinedupwardly at their inner or rear ends and extend between the spools andin substantial alinement with the spacers 16, forming openingsequivalent to the width of the spools 12. It is through these openingsthat the hair passes down to a point "below the working plane of thescraping elements, the grid table forming a sultable 1ninclined plate52, combining with the sideframes 10, to form a discharge chute leadingfrom beneath the grids by which the hair and water are carriedbacktoward the rear of the machine.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that.

the spools 19, may vary in size; those at the extreme ends of thecarriage being shown larger in diameter than the spools in the center,and that the peripheries of these spools are beveled inwardly. Thespools are preferably arranged in this manner to produce a form ofcradle which will serve to centralize the carcass as it lies upon thedehairer, thus adding to the efficiency of the device, and producing ameans whereby the head and hams of the animal may be thoroughly cleansedand scraped.

It is readily apparent that the diameters of these spools may be soarranged as to substantially conformto the entire outline of the hog ashe lies upon them.

I wish to make it further understood that I do not limit myself toplacing the spools in sets of fours as shown, but that the same may belarger or smaller and the number of the same may be increased ordecreased according to the particular design required.

Instead of the arrangement shown, ll may employ a number of spoolsmounted directly upon the main driving shaft 17, arranging them side byside so that they may revolve independent of one another upon shaft 17or in unison.

I have described my present invention in detail relative to itspreferred embodiment, and have further endeavored to set forth that asshown and described to the best advantage as will such a limitedspecification and drawings permit. 7 I

I have necessarily been limited in detailing its numerous modificationsand refinements, and I therefore declare that these modifications andrefinements are contemplated within the scope of my invention asexpressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a feeding-means at oneside of the machine, and a discharge, spaced therefrom, at the oppositeside of the machine, a rotatable dehairing-element having its operatingsurface within the space between the feed and discharge and projectingabove the same, means for rotating the upper side of thedehairing-element in the direction of the discharge, and means forretaining the carcass being operated upon by the dehairing-elementduring the operation of dehairing and for releasing the same, wherebysaid carcass will, by the direction of rotation of the dehairing-meansbe caused to travel toward the discharge.

2. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a carcass discharge, arotatable dehailing-element arranged in advance of the inner end of thedischarge and comprising a series of independently rotatable scrapersannularly disposed in the dehairing-element and adapted to travel in anannular path about the axis of said dehairing-element when the latter isrotated, means for rotating the dehairing element to force the carcassestoward the discharge, and means for retaining the carcass within thefield of operation of said dehairing-element 3. The combination, in adehairing-machine, of a carcass discharge, a rotatable dehairing-elementarranged in advance of the inner end of the discharge and journaledbelow the same, said dehairing element comprising a series ofindependently rotatable scrapers annularly disposed in thedehairing-element and adapted to travel in an annular path about theaxis of said dehairingelement when the latter is rotated and above theplane of the discharge, means for rotating the dehairing-element so thatits upper operative side travels toward the discharge, and means forretaining the carcass within the field of operation of thedehairing-element and releasing the same.

l. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a carcass-discharge, arotatable dehairing-element arranged in advance of the inner end of thedischarge, journaled below the inner end of the same and having itsworkingsurface projecting thereabove, said dehairing'element comprisinga series of toothed dehairing rollers supported in the dehairing-elementso as to travel in a path about the axis of the same, means for rotatingthe dehairing-element, and means for retaining a carcass upon theworking-stir face of the dehairing element during the operation ofdehairing.

5. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a carcass discharge, arotatable dehairing element arranged in advance of the inner end of thedischarge, journaled below the inner end of the same and having itsworking-surface projecting thereabove, said dehairing-element comprisinga series of groups of independently rotatable toothed dehairing rollerssupported about the axis of the dehairing element and constituting theworking-surface of the same means for rotating the dehairing-element,and means for retaining a carcass upon the working surface of thedehairing-element during the operation of dehairing.

6. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a carcass discharge, arotatable dearrest the travel of the carcass toward the discharge duringthe operation of dehairing and to retain the carcass upon thedehairing-eloment during said operation, and means for temporarilylocking said closure against swinging.

7. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a rotatabledehairingelement, the same comprising opposite heads mounted upon acommon axis, shafts connecting said heads and arranged about said axis,and

toothed rollers spaced apart and arranged -111 groups upon sald shafts,together with means for retainmg a carcass upon sald dehairing-element,said retaining means comprising a series of bars having their lower endsprojecting within the spaces of said rollers.

8. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a rotatabledehairing-element, the

same comprising opposite heads mounted upon a common axis, a series ofrods connecting the heads and paralleling and dis posed about said axis,groups of serrated spools loosely mounted on the rods, and means forretaining a carcass upon said dehairing-element during the operation ofdehairing and for releasing said carcass sub sequent to such operation.

9. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a rotatabledehairing-element, the same comprising opposite heads mounted upon acommon axis, a series of rods connecting the heads and paralleling anddisposed about said axis, groups of serrated spools mounted on the rodsand capable of independent rotation, said spools of each groupdecreasing in diameters toward the middles of the groups, and means forre taining a carcass upon said dehairing-element during the operation ofdehairing and for releasing said carcass subsequent to such operation.

10. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, provided at itsdischarge-end with an inclined discharge-chute, of a gambrelingbenchlocated beyond the chute at the discharge-end of the machine, anddehairing means in advance of the chute, and an inclined grid arrangedabove the upper end of the chute and leading from the dehairingmeans tothe gambreling-bench.

11. The combination, in a dehairing-machine, of a rotatabledehairing-element, means for discharging a carcass thereon, a dischargeleading from said element, a rockshaft journaled in the machine abovethe dehairing-element, a gate carried by the rock-shaft and depending toa point above the dehairing-element and closing the inner end of therear discharge, a rock-arm carried by the end of the rock-shaft, meansfor limiting the inward movement of the rockarm, a locking-lever pivotedbetween its ends upon the machine and having its rear end adapted toengage and lock the rockarm, and a bell-crank lever pivoted to themachine and loosely, connected with and adapted to operate saidlocking-lever.

12. A rotatable dehairing-element for use in a dehairing-machine, thesame consisting of an axis, opposite heads carried by the same,equidistant rods connectin the heads, a series of spacing-disks locatedupon the axis, sleeves upon said rods and impinged upon at their ends bythe disks, and serrated spools carried by the sleeves and of less widththan the same, said spools having independent rotation on the rods.

13. A rotatable dehairing-element for use in a dehairing-machine, thesame consisting of an axis, opposite heads located at the ends of theaxis and adaptedto move therewith, a plurality of rods paralleling theaxis, arranged equidistantly about the same, and connecting the heads,and an unbroken series of independent serrated spools mounted on eachrod and filling the space between the heads.

14. A rotatable dehairing-element for use in a dehairing-machine, thesame consisting of an axis, opposite heads located at. the ends of theaxis and adapted to move therewith, a plurality of rods paralleling theaxis, arranged equidistantly about the same, and connecting the heads,an unbroken series of serrated independent spools mounted on each rodand filling the space between the heads, and spacing-means between thespools of each series.

Signed at Chicagoin the presence of the two subscribing witnesses, this19th day of April, 1918.

ROBERT S. REDFIELD. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

F. B. STRICKLER, W. STADLER.

